Ducky continues to ruffle feathers as SBC admit error

The Highway Nursery in Eyemouth show their support for 'Ducky', who is facing eviction from his owners (James Anderson) allotment. James and Neice Jessica Foggon.

Published:07:52Friday 20 January 2012

It’S the story that ruffled a few feathers over the festive period and just as it looked like there could be a happy ending for Eyemouth duck Ducky, her fate could become an issue once again after Scottish Borders Council admitted to making an administrative error.

In a letter sent last week, to Eyegrow, the committee responsible for the running of Eyemouth allotments, SBC said that they would change the legislation on which animals could live on the site to be inclusive of ‘domestic ducks’, meaning Ducky, who was the subject of a festive petition by her owner James Anderson, could now live there.

Ducky has been living at Reston after SBC previously denied granting any permission, either verbal or written, for her or any other ducks to be on the allotments.

James contacted ‘The Berwickshire News’ earlier this week, thrilled that his runner duck could once again live in the heart of the Eyemouth community, but it now appears this happiness could be shortlived as after just days of her being back in the town, SBC have owned up to making a mistake with the lease, claiming a letter should never have been sent out permitting ducks to be on the allotments.

A spokesperson for SBC said: We will be looking to amend the lease to clarify that the primary purpose for the allotments is to grow fruit and vegetables for domestic use - with a secondary use for keeping hens only.

“The council accepts there was an error in the lease which referred to ‘poultry’ and it should have referred solely to ‘hens.’ This will now be amended in consultation with EyeGrow. A letter was sent in error to EyeGrow stating that ducks and other poultry were allowed on the site but we have now contacted them to clarify the situation, and to apologise for any confusion.”